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Classroom, Inc. (CI), is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to close the achievement gap for low-income adolescents by using technology and the world of work to engage, teach, and inspire. Classroom, Inc. engages urban adolescents with programs that develop academic, critical thinking and workplace readiness skills.

Classroom, Inc. creates workplace-based computer simulations and related instructional materials, and offers professional development and coaching for teachers. The programs are used in public and parochial schools and in community-based organizations in a variety of instructional settings, e.g., the summer, school day and after school. A recently adopted strategic plan focuses on developing and disseminating summer curriculum to students most in need and vulnerable to dropping out.

Founded in 1991, Classroom, Inc. has served schools in 17 states, most often in large urban districts such as New York City, Chicago, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Memphis and Washington, DC. To date, Classroom, Inc. has worked with approximately 700,000 students and over 10,000 teachers. About 35% of the students and teachers currently served are from NYC public schools.

With decades of achieving strong results for the nation’s neediest students, and with the alignment of two driving forces in American education -- the adoption of the Common Core State Standards and the emergence of next generation learning tools to help students become college and career ready – Classroom, Inc. is committed to being a leader in the education reform movement.

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors and with a seat on the Board, the President is the Chief Executive of Classroom, Inc. Having just reached its 20th anniversary, Classroom, Inc. is now seeking a driven and entrepreneurial leader to grow and scale the organization with the goal of serving significantly more students and teachers in a sustainable fashion.

As the leader of the organization, the President will be responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s strategy (in collaboration with the Board), representing the organization’s mission as a key external voice, managing existing and new relationships and partnerships, driving fundraising and managing and continuing to build the internal team.

This is an ideal opportunity for a charismatic, results-oriented leader who is passionate about growing and scaling an organization and who is committed to the mission of Classroom, Inc.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leadership and Organizational Management

• Provide vision and direction to Classroom, Inc. and be a credible voice for the organization in both internal and external settings.
• In collaboration with the Board, design the strategic planning process and manage its execution.
• Mentor, manage and develop the senior leadership team -- currently the Vice Presidents of Operations, Curriculum and Assessment, Development, and Business Development -- working with them to lead and manage organizational growth. This will require balancing expansion and quality control interests, while embracing open-mindedly the challenges of the fast-paced, changing work environment and marketplace to meet Classroom, Inc.’s goals.
• Model and support an entrepreneurial mindset throughout the organization, inspiring colleagues to produce and deliver creative, high-quality products and services.
• Work with the Vice Presidents to attract and retain the talent necessary to achieve CI’s objectives and see that resources are being used effectively.

External Relationships

• Develop results-driven strategic relationships with key educational and technology organizations, professional associations, foundations, school districts and other entities that can help CI reach an expanded audience.
• Enhance Classroom, Inc.’s visibility and brand recognition by developing and executing an effective marketing and communications plan, in collaboration with the senior leadership team.
• Serve as the public face and voice of CI, communicating CI’s activities/achievements, expertise and impact broadly and effectively, and contributing to the national education dialogue as a whole.
• Lead CI’s traditional and social media strategies, including the use of Twitter, Facebook and a regular blog as well as op-ed pieces and articles that build interest in CI and demonstrates that CI is a thought leader in the field.

Revenue Generation

• Collaborate with the VP of Development to leverage the Board’s energy and skills to drive forward development efforts and to lead fundraising initiatives from identification of sources through closure.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors and the VP of Development to cultivate corporate financial and in-kind resources by creating events and other communication opportunities that tell the CI story.
• Increase Classroom, Inc.’s market presence and develop new business, in collaboration with the VP of Business Development, by identifying appropriate targets, conducting outreach, nurturing and maintaining relationships, and closing business with district superintendents and other current and future “clients”.
• Develop and implement plans to strategically leverage both philanthropic and earned income revenue streams, e.g., by using philanthropic gifts to jumpstart initiatives in new markets, or creating opportunities for matching funds tied to sales performance.
• Lead Classroom, Inc.’s upcoming Capital campaign which will be used to develop new curriculum and expand the organization.

Programs

• Lead the creation of new products, programs and services that meet the needs of our target students and teachers and that consistently generate philanthropic support as well as earned income.
• Monitor and understand the broader educational and technological landscape and changes within school systems and the education industry; apply this understanding to organizational priorities and programmatic offerings.
• Working with senior colleagues, analyze the need for professional development and coaching offerings in the broader education market, and create a strategy to position CI’s offerings accordingly.
• Supervise and direct the research team, ensuring the findings are relevant, high-quality and meet the needs of our current and potential partners.

The successful candidate for this role will possess:

• Significant experience in leading and managing a fast-paced, dynamic organization, preferably in education or education technology.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop productive working relationships across a wide variety of individuals and groups, both internally and externally.
• A keen intellect, with the ability to conceptualize, anticipate and act on events that may create opportunities; the ability to be an independent thinker and creative problem solver.
• Demonstrated success in non-profit fundraising or business development with a track record of having closed large gifts or new business transactions.
• Strong leadership skills with a capacity to engender loyalty to an organization and cause coupled with a collegial management style and proven team-building skills.
• Ability to hire, develop and retain “A” players.
• Excellent public speaking skills; the ability to be a listener and evaluator with the good judgment to make realistic and clear-cut decisions.
• Excellent organizational, writing and communication skills, with an ability to persuade and inspire others through verbal and written communications.
• Sound moral and ethical business judgment and experience or familiarity with the culture as well as the regulatory and economic realities of a not-for-profit organization.
• An entrepreneurial spirit with an ability to thrive in an environment that is characterized by significant growth and change.
• Commitment to the power of public education to serve all children, especially those struggling to achieve success in school.
• Strong working knowledge of current trends in public education nationwide.
• Deep experience in at least one of the following areas: education technology, K-12 education reform, education publishing or Common Core State Standards.
• Expertise in educational game development, instructional design, online assessment and educational materials publishing preferred.
• Expertise in cutting-edge educational evaluation and assessment strategies preferred.
• Teaching experience a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.

Classroom, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.